| Overview : In DRC, UNCDF is implementing with UNDP a Joint Programme for the Sustainable Consumption and Partial Substitution for Wood Energy in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Funded by the Central African Forest Initiative (CAFI) through the National REDD+ Funds of the DRC ( FONAREDD), the Joint Programme is structured around three main energy sub-sectors of focus: Improved Stoves; Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG); Micro-Hydro Electricals. This is through an institutional setup that makes use of a diversified partnership with Congolese public institutions, the private sector, UN agencies, research institutions and learned societies as well as civil society. To this end, the Joint Programme aims to contribute to the establishment of a sustainable clean cooking market through (i) the establishment of a favorable environment and (ii) an incubation programme for the private sector to select clean cooking companies to receive funding and technical assistance throughout the duration of the programme. In line with the national and international lessons learned, the Joint Programme's efforts are focused on sites where a viable and self-sufficient potential market exists, with the presence of actors able to benefit effectively from catalytic technical and financial support of the Joint Programme to change scale of production (knowledge of the sector and sufficient basic entrepreneurial capacities). UNCDF aims to address the barriers to clean cooking energy access in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) by developing local market for clean cooking (improved energies and cook stoves) in a viable and commercial way through an incubation programme. UNCDF invites applications from registered incubator, business advisory firm, Business Development Service , Association/Alliance/Platform with presence in DRC that can organize high level workshops and discussions on clean cooking topics in the country. At the implementation level, the organization/firm/company shall comprise of field-based representatives who engage with and recruit stakeholders in selected area if needed Based on UNCDF’s commitments to developing and boost scale up of clean cooking market by leveraging win-win linkages between clean cooking industry stakeholders , particularly LPG and cookstove companies in DRC, UNCDF is looking to on-board a firm/Business Development Service provider that will carry out the following activities: 1. Organize a ½ day visit for the UNCDF partner companies in DRC from Goma and Bukavu to the Virunga Industrial zone to explore a range of advantages proposed by the Virunga Foundation Industrial Zone to companies operating from the zone. 2. Organize a ½ day consultation session between the UNCDF partner companies in DRC and Virunga Industrial Zone manager in Goma to identify partnership opportunities and areas. 3. Organize a ½ day consultation session between the UNCDF partner companies in DRC and AZES (Special Economic Zone Agency) and ARISE in Kinshasa to identify partnership opportunities and areas. 4. Organize a 2 days linkages workshop between ESCOs, Financial Institutions, Microfinance, Telcos, fintech, AZES to explore and strategize relevant and efficient partnerships to scale up clean cooking market in DRC Please refer to the attached RFP for comprehensive details of the opportunity and the submission process.All submissions are to be made to uncdf.procurement@uncdf.org | 
